5 culpable cartoons about Big Tech and social media

Artists take on tech addiction, vulnerable youth, and more

By
published

A man is on the couch in his psychiatrist's office. He says, "You want me to explain my tech addiction? OK, here's a website that defines 'tech addiction' as..."

(Image credit: Harley Schwadron / Copyright 2025 Cagle Cartoons, Inc.)

A child in a raincoat looks into a drain on a street. An evil clown, like Pennywise, is in the drain next to the words “Social Media”. The clown holds a balloon labeled “Gore, Sex, AI Slop” and says, “So you want to check with mommy and daddy first? Don’t worry, they're in here with me too!”

(Image credit: Pedro Molina / Copyright 2025 Tribune Content Agency)

Three excited and happy children run toward the open door of a van that is labeled “Free Candy” A scary, smiling face and the words “Social media” lurk in the dark inside the van.

(Image credit: Nick Anderson / Copyright 2025 Tribune Content Agency)

This cartoon is titled “Phishing expedition.” An overweight man in a T-shirt that reads “Meta” and “Google” holds a fishing rod in one hand and a little boy attached to a fishing line in the other. The boy holds a cell phone. The man says, “We prefer to catch the little ones…”

(Image credit: Jack Ohman / Copyright 2025 Tribune Content Agency)

This eight-panel cartoon titled "SPRING BREAK" illustrates a male teenager's constant phone use. The teenager has a glazed look on his face as he is on his phone morning and night. His battery finally runs out and he steps outside for just a moment while he charges his phone. That's the "spring break" and he looks happy as he steps outside. In the final panel he is back in his bedroom, looking at his phone with a glazed, tired expression.

(Image credit: Joe Heller / Copyright 2025 Hellertoon.com)

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
The Week US